The Dutch state is pursuing parallel tracks to sell the commercial banking arms of either ABN Amro or Fortis Bank Nederland in an effort to satisfy EU competition regulators that a merger between the two state-owned banks can proceed. FBN and ABN, both nationalised late last year, are to be merged ahead of a planned privatisation in or after 2011. BNP Paribas has shown interest in the commercial banking operations of FBN while on a separate track, there may yet be a deal with Deutsche Bank.